LOT – Chapter 90 The System’s Art of Speaking

Seeing everyone’s gazes on her, Lin Mo suddenly felt like a massive joke.

Who in the world plays The Young Widow Visits Her Husband’s Grave at their own birthday banquet?! People must think she’s a lunatic!

Lin Mo swallowed nervously and wailed inwardly at the system: 【Ahhhhhh! What do I do now?! Why didn’t you warn me earlier?!】

The system replied innocently: 【Why would I need to warn you? It sounded great! You performed way better than yesterday. Don’t you people play the suona at both weddings and funerals?】

Lin Mo screamed: 【Sounded great my ass! Look at the name of the song—does that fit a birthday banquet?!】

The system stirred its not-so-smart brainwaves, then suddenly had a revelation. 【Ah! It really doesn’t match, no wonder it sounded so weird to me! It sounds good, yes, but there was just something off—and now I get it! That’s what was off!】

Lin Mo: “…”

Everyone else: “…”

Lin Mo truly felt like she was about to be completely screwed over by this system. She glanced at the stunned expressions of the audience, then forced an awkward smile and said, “Hahaha, I was just joking with everyone just now, haha, wasn’t that a funny little joke?”

Given the current atmosphere, whatever Lin Mo said came off as extremely awkward.

Everyone exchanged looks, then began to laugh dryly together.

“Oh, it was a joke? Then it really was quite funny. Lord Lin, you’re truly humorous.”

“Yes, yes, I was wondering how Lord Lin could play that kind of tune at her own birthday banquet. So it was a joke!”

“Lord Lin plays the suona so well. And Minister Lin is also very talented in music theory—truly, like father, like daughter!”

Minister Lin: “…” Can you not drag me into this right now, please!?

Looking at these flattering officials, Emperor Xuande felt particularly annoyed. Watching the scene, his teeth itched with frustration.

He leaned over and whispered to the Crown Prince beside him, “Don’t you think these people are just unbearable? I think there’s a word that fits them perfectly—sycophants!”

These people were basically living examples of treacherous officials—those who constantly spread slander, call a deer a horse, and blatantly lie with open eyes.

Crown Prince: “…” Father, that doesn’t sound quite right. If they’re sycophants, then what does that make Lin Mo—the one they’re flattering? The Emperor!?

Initially, the royal father and sons hadn’t been seated together, but once people recognized them, they voluntarily gave up seats to them.

This was truly a first: the imperial family coming en masse to watch a scandal unfold.

The Crown Prince looked at his solemn-faced father, then at the officials with awkward fake smiles still trying to say nice things. He sighed helplessly.

“Father, you’re overthinking it. Everyone’s just helping her smooth things over.”

Watching these usually serious officials now waxing poetic with compliments, the Crown Prince felt an indescribable sense of relief and satisfaction.

He usually had to handle state affairs and attend classes with those very same officials. He’d been scolded plenty by them. This was the first time he’d ever seen them like this.

The audience was thoroughly entertained by the banquet—they’d just received three major pieces of juicy gossip in one go!

And the juiciest of all was gifted by Lord Lin herself—playing that kind of tune at her own birthday banquet? One word: Legendary.

After sending off the guests, Lin Mo was immediately dragged away by her family for questioning.

Madam Lin slammed the table in fury, shouting, “What were you thinking playing the suona on such a joyous day!? Even if you had to play it, aren’t there more festive tunes available? Have you even listened to the nonsense you played!?”

“You’re a young lady playing ‘The Widow’s Tomb Song’! Are you trying to ruin your reputation even more!? Don’t you realize you barely have one left!?”

Lin Mo bowed her head and muttered quietly, “I know… But everyone already knows about it. Since I don’t have a reputation anymore, I might as well not worry about it so much…”

Lin Qi and Lin Ran, standing nearby: …Can you just shut up for now? Are you really trying to get a beating on your birthday!?

Playing such an inauspicious tune at a birthday banquet—if this had been someone else’s event, she would’ve been dragged off to the ancestral hall by now.

Thank goodness it was her own birthday banquet. Had it been anyone else’s, she’d likely have been beaten on the spot—and the two families would’ve become sworn enemies then and there.

After the scolding, Lin Mo quickly retreated to her own courtyard.

【Sigh, if I go to court tomorrow, someone’s definitely going to make fun of me… I don’t even want to go anymore, what do I do…】

Lying facedown on her bed, Lin Mo was drowning in misery.

The system said: 【So what? It’s not like they haven’t laughed at you before. You’ve already got so many “debts,” what’s one more? Remember when your dad dragged you running through the streets? Everyone laughed at you then too. And there were plenty of other incidents before and after that one. Compared to those, this is really no big deal. Just relax.】

Lin Mo was instantly silenced. Why did it sound like the system’s words always carried this weird tone?

What was worse was how sincere it sounded—sincerity wrapped in a soft verbal dagger. Where did this system learn how to talk like this? Its communication style was lethal!

Clutching her chest, Lin Mo said in distress: 【Just let me be quiet for a bit, okay? Sometimes… you really don’t have to speak. You’re really not suited for comforting people.】

The system strongly disagreed. Why wasn’t it suited for comforting people? It had learned so much—it was a cultured, educated system now! How was it not suited for comforting?

And so, it began to argue this point with Lin Mo—for the entire night.

When Lin Mo got up the next morning, dark circles hung under her eyes like lanterns.

The system cheerfully commented: 【Good thing I don’t need sleep! Even after arguing with you all night, I feel refreshed and energized. But you… your stamina’s not looking too good.】

Lin Mo couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. Sometimes, the system’s way of speaking was truly infuriating.

On the way to court that morning, everyone Lin Mo passed greeted her with cheerful enthusiasm.

“Good morning, Lord Lin!”

Lin Mo forced a dry smile. “Morning.”

“Lord Lin, your complexion doesn’t look so good—didn’t sleep well last night?”

Lin Mo: “I slept fine. It’s just that yesterday’s birthday was a bit too exciting.”

The system chimed in: 【A one-of-a-kind birthday banquet! Of course it was exciting! And the guests seemed to enjoy it even more than you did!】

All the officials present: Hahaha! It really was quite enjoyable! After eating so much melon yesterday, even our sleep quality improved last night.